Shane Belanger

Fresh seafood, produce, cheese, wine, breakfast sandwiches, coffee -- sounds like a gourmet grocery store, huh? If you guessed yes, then you would be wrong! This is the scene for the Stonington Village Farmer's market @ The Velvet Mill in Stonington. The mill hosts the farmers' market every Saturday from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. during the winter.As I walked around, I saw people … [Read more...] about The Stonington Village Farmer’s Market at the Velvet Mill

About five months ago, I set out to see if I could leave my car parked in my driveway and just get around town using Uber. Uber you say? Are they even in Westerly? I heard they weren't safe. It's expensive.Those were just some of the questions and comments I heard when I told people what I was doing.Firstly, for those who don't know, Uber is a ride sharing app that … [Read more...] about Uber in Westerly; Is it For Me?

Jett, Amethyst, Quartz, Obsidian, Amber and Sapphire. No, these aren't the dancers from your local "gentleman's club". They are the six abandoned seal pups rescued around the coast of Maine, shortly after their birth.According to The Mystic Aquarium's website, finding abandoned seal pups is not uncommon. Below are some possible reasons for abandoned seal pups as … [Read more...] about Abandoned Seal Pups Returned to Ocean

The modern economy is a modern marvel. It has grown into a monster that can not be contained no matter how hard we try. Money has been transformed from a store of value pegged to a commodity -- ie: gold -- to a commodity that is traded. Now, money is a currency that is backed by the faith that we have in our government.Let's explore this concept a little further. In a … [Read more...] about Understanding How Currency Works — Before Understanding Bitcoin

Bitcoin. What is it? Who uses it? Who accepts it? Why should I even care about it?Those are all great questions. What started out as an experiment has matured into a highly sophisticated form of commerce. It is safe to use, and contrary to popular belief, it isn't just used by drug dealers and other "black market" entities.Although Bitcoin hasn't become mainstream … [Read more...] about Bitcoin — What is it and how can I use it?

I pull off 95 at exit 1 looking for a place to park myself for breakfast - I've been traveling all morning and need to recharge my batteries. Not just me but the laptop, the phone, the spare batteries, the camera, etc.I'm in the mood for a place where the wait staff treats you like family, the food is just plain good, and the feel is going to be nostalgic. Right off the … [Read more...] about The Brick Oven Restaurant of Ashaway

One thing that always struck me as odd, is the lack of chain pizzerias in the Westerly area. Over the years there have been a few that have come and gone, but none have stood the test of time. Maybe it goes back to the town's Italian ancestry, or the fact that a local pizza house does a much better job. Whatever the case, if you want a good Italian meal, Voc's Dunns Corners … [Read more...] about Voc’s Dunns Corners Pizza — Westerly, RI

We've all heard it before -- shop local and the money stays local.We try to do it, but sometimes it is just so much easier to go online to Amazon, do a search, read a couple of reviews and buy. Now we don't mind waiting a few days to receive our products because the shopping experience is effortless.When we shop in town, we usually know where to go because we have been … [Read more...] about Get Back to Basics and Shop Local; Greater Westerly Area